27 Sep 2025
Mangupura, September 27, 2025 – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Bali has once again marked an important milestone in expanding international connectivity by welcoming two inaugural flights from foreign airlines on consecutive days: Sichuan Airlines from China and T’way Air from South Korea. These new services reflect the strong and sustained interest of international markets in Bali as a premier destination.
Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, stated that the commencement of services by Sichuan Airlines and T’way Air, connecting Chengdu and Cheongju respectively, is a positive signal for Bali’s tourism sector. “We warmly welcome Sichuan Airlines and T’way Air as they operate for the first time at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The direct connections to Chengdu and Cheongju create new opportunities for travelers from China and South Korea to easily reach Bali, while strengthening the airport’s role as a major hub for world-class tourist destinations,” he explained.
On Thursday (Sept 25), T’way Air officially launched its inaugural direct flight between Cheongju (CJJ) and Denpasar (DPS), operating flight TW157. The aircraft landed in Bali at 11:54 PM WITA and departed back to Cheongju as flight TW158 on Friday at 1:09 AM WITA, carrying 159 passengers. This route will be served twice weekly, every Thursday and Sunday, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Meanwhile, on Friday evening (Sept 26), Sichuan Airlines also inaugurated its service from Tianfu, Chengdu (TFU) to Denpasar with flight 3U3985. The aircraft arrived at 9:35 PM WITA, carrying 181 passengers from Tianfu International Airport. It departed back to Chengdu as flight 3U3986 at 10:58 PM WITA with 108 passengers onboard. This route is scheduled to operate daily.
Syaugi further emphasized the strategic importance of the Chinese market for Bali tourism. “China has always been one of the most significant contributors to international arrivals in Bali. From January to August 2025, we recorded 393,825 Chinese visitors, ranking as the third-largest source of international arrivals to the island. With direct connectivity to Chengdu, we are optimistic about attracting more tourists and enhancing the region’s economic potential,” he said.
With the addition of these airlines and new international routes, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport remains committed to providing safe, comfortable, and high-quality services for all passengers. “We ensure smooth operational processes, from passenger arrivals and immigration to ground handling services. We also continue to coordinate with all stakeholders to maintain service excellence amid the growing volume of international flights,” Syaugi added.
As additional information, with the two new routes and airlines, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport now serves 42 international routes operated by 47 airlines. In total, the airport handles 64 domestic and international routes with 53 airlines in operation.
